Display rack

ABSTRACT

A display rack comprising a plurality of individual sections, each having a plurality of spaced openings which receive containers therein. Connecting means connects the sections together for movement between an open position wherein the sections are spaced from each other to permit access to the containers, and a closed position wherein one section covers the containers in an adjacent section to prevent their removal. Fastening means is provided to maintain the rack in the closed position.

United States Patent Weindling [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] DISPLAY RACK [72] Inventor: Frederik Weindling, 205 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, Conn. 06902 [22] Filed: June 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 42,663

[52] U.S. Cl "206/4511, 150/12, 190/58 B, 211/76, 211/178, 224/46 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 25/00, A47b 73/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..206/45.l1;21l/76, 178; 190/58 B; 150/12; 224/46 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,337,028 8/1967 Glavan ..206/1 Gamble... ..150/12 X 3,259,285 7/1966 Bush ..224/46 1,448,435 3/1923 Davis ..206/45.l 1

Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Paul Fields [571 ABSTRACT A display rack comprising a plurality of individual sections, each having a plurality of spaced openings which receive containers therein. Connecting means connects the sections together for movement between an open position wherein the sections are spaced from each other to permit access to the containers, and a closed position wherein one section covers the containers in an adjacent section to prevent their removal. Fastening means is provided to maintain the rack in the closed position.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented March 21, 1.972 3,650,381

"FIG. I.

INVENTOR FREDERI WElNDLIN G ATTORNEY.

DISPLAY RACK Thisinvention relates generally to a display rack and, more particularly, pertains to a display rack which may be placed in an open position to display and permit access to the containers held therein or which may be placed in a closed position for easy transportation.

Presently, commercially available display racks such as the type normally utilized to hold and display associated spice bottles or the like usually comprise a frame having a number of slats nailed or otherwise fastened together to form shelves which retain the spice bottles. Hence, in addition to being bulky and lacking any esthetic appeal, such display racks suffer from a severe disadvantage in that they are stationary and are usually fixed to a wall. Thus, if a cook wishes to prepare a dinner, for example, in a kitchen other than his own, he must remove the desired spice bottles from his rack, pack the same to insure that they will not break in transit, unpack the bottles when he reaches his destination, and repack the bottles after the dinner has been made. Therefore, it is obvious that present day display racks of the type under consideration have serious limitations on their use.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved display rack.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a display rack which is pleasing to the eye.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide a display rack of the type described, which may be affixed to a wall for easy access to the containers or which may be closed for easy transportation of the containers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a display rack wherein a major portion of the containers is visible to provide easy and quick identification of the goods therein.

Accordingly, a display rack constructed according to the present invention is adapted to retain and display apparatus and comprises a plurality of individual sections. Each one of the plurality of sections has a plurality of apparatus retainers which are adapted to receive apparatus therein. Connecting means interconnects the plurality of sections so that one section may be moved to a closed position with respect to another section to prevent removal of the apparatus received in said other section. Spaced fastening means is provided which are adapted to engage each other when all of said plurality of sections have been moved to the closed position for maintaining the rack closed.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a display rack constructed according to the present invention, in the open position but with the cover tabs omitted;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display rack shown in FIG. 1, in a partially closed position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the display rack shown in FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the display rack in the closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, with a portion broken away, of a container constructed according to the present invention.

The display rack of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in the FIGS. and includes four individual sections respectively designated by the reference numerals 12, 14, 16 and 18. The sections 12-18 are substantially identical in construction and only the section 12 will be described in detail. Corresponding elements of the other sections will be designated by the same letter suffix but with the numeral prefix associated with that particular section. For example, the top surface of the section 12 is designated by the reference character 12A, whereas the corresponding element of the section 16 (i.e., the top surface of section 16) will esignated by the character 16A.

More specifically, as noted above, the section 12 includes a top surface 12A, a bottom surface 128, a front surface 12C, and a rear surface 12E. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear surface 125 is comprised of a first portion 12F which extends downwardly from the top surface 12A, and a second portion 12G which tapers downwardly and forwardly from the portion 12F to the bottom surface 128. Provided in the front surface 120 of the section 12 is a longitudinally extending groove 20. Extending downwardly from the top surface 12A of the section 12 are four longitudinally spaced openings 22.

One such opening is shown in greater detail in FIG. 1 in section 14. It is to be noted-that the openings 22 in adjacent ones of the sections are offset with respect to each other. More specifically, it will be noted that the openings 22 in the section 14 are not aligned with the openings 22 in the section. 12. Thus, for example, the axis of the second opening 22 from the right-hand edge of the section 14 is positioned midway between the axes of thefirsttwo openings 22 from the righthand edge of the section 12. However, openings in alternate sections are aligned witheach other so that the axes of the openings 22 in section 12 are aligned with the axes of the openings 22 in section 16. Similar comments apply for the sections 14 and 18.

As noted above, received in each opening 22 is a container 24. The containers 24 are identical in construction and are shown in detail in FIG. 6. Thus, each container includes a bottle 26, the mouth 28 of which is substantially of the same diameter as the interior of the bottle to facilitate filling the bottle and, more importantly, emptying the bottle. Thus, it is a simple matter to extract spices from the interior of the bottle 26. An external bead 30 surrounds the mouth of the bottle 28. A cover 32 seals the top of the bottle. That is, the cover 32 is provided with a depending peripheral wall 34 having an internal bead 36 adjacent the lower edge thereof. The cover 32 is made of a flexible and resilient material, such as plastic, and the bead 36 is adapted to snap over and under the bead 30 to maintain the cover in place. Additionally, the cover is provided with a radially extending tab 38 which can be raised upwardly to free the bead 36 from the bead 28 when it is desired to remove the cover.

The openings 22 terminate at the lower wall of the grooves 20 and the containers 24 are sized so that the cover portion thereof is spaced above the top surface of the respective section. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the covers 32 of the containers 24 extend above the top surface 12A of the section 12. Additionally, indicia 40 may be placed on the top of each one of the containers 24 to indicate the contents thereof. At this point, it should be noted that the offset between the containers in openings 22 in adjacent sections is slightly greater than the diameter of a cover 32, as will become obvious from a consideration of the description hereinbelow.

The sections 12-18 are connected together by a pair of straps 42 and 44. To be more specific, the straps 42 and 44 are connected to the second portion 12G-18G of the rear walls of each of the sections by fastening means such as rivets 46. The strap 42 is positioned adjacent the right-hand edge of the sections, as taken in FIG. 1, and the strap 44 is positioned adjacent the left-hand edge of the sections. The straps are made of a flexible material such as leather, so that the sections 12-18 will be movable with respect to each other. In view of the fact that the second portion of each rear surface is tapered, the containers 24 will be angled outwardly when the display rack is mounted on a wall in the open position, as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, this construction permits easy access to the containers 24 and the goods contained therein in contradistinction to conventional display racks of the spice rack type wherein the spices are maintained in a conventional shelf whereby the spice bottle must be lifted vertically upwardly and then maneuvered out between shelves. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the depth of the groove 20 is such that the groove extends beyond the openings 22 so that the entire lower portion of each container 24 is easily visible to the cook. Hence, the cook can immediately determine whether a container needs refilling simply by glancing at the rack.

The straps 42 and 44 extend below the section 18 and above the section 12 and terminate in fastening means such as male snaps 48 at the lower ends and female snaps 50 at the upper ends. The snaps 48 and 50 are utilized to maintain the rack in the closed position, as noted in detail below.

In operation, the rack is normally mounted on a wall by means of a handle 52, described in greater detail below. Accordingly, the sections will be oriented as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein each section is in spaced relationship to another section and the containers are angled outwardly for easy access. When a person wishes to utilize a container, he simply removes the container by moving it outwardly and can then open the container by a simple movement of the thumb by engaging the cover 32beneath the tab 38 and moving upwardly. The container is closed in the manner noted above by snapping the cover downwardly over the external bead adjacent the mouth of the bottle. Such containers are conventional in construction and are usually utilized by pharmacies and the like for transporting pills and capsules.

When it is desired to transport the containers, the rack is removed from its wall mounting. Thereafter, the section 18 is pivoted upwardly by means of the flexible straps 42 and 44 so that the covers 32 of the containers 24 retained in the section 18 are received in the groove 20 of the section 16, asshown in FIG. 3. The reason for the openings 22 inadjacent sections being offset with respect to each other will now become apparent. That is, the openings 22 are offset so that when the covers of the containers in one section are received in the groove in an adjacent section the covers will easily interfit or be juxtaposed with the bodies of the containers in the other section. Thus, when the containers in the section 18 are received in the groove 20 of the section 16, the section 16 in effect seals the containers of the section 18 so that they cannot be removed therefrom or accidentally fall out. Moreover, this construction permits a closer interfitting relationship between sections which results in an overall smaller package.

This process is again repeated so that the covers 32 of the containers in the section 16 are received in the groove 20 in the section 14. Hence, the containers 24 in the section 16 are efiectively sealed and cannot be removed.

Thereafter, the section 12 is folded over so that the covers of the containers in the section 14 are received in the groove 20 in the section 12 and the covers of the containers in the section 12 are received in the groove 20 of the section 18. With the sections so arranged in the so-called closed state, the male snaps 48 will overlie the female snaps 50 in the straps 42 and 44 and may be snapped together to maintain the rack 10 in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus the rack may be easily transported without fear of losing any of the containers 24 since each section effectively seals the containers in another section and prevents their removal. When the person arrives at his destination, the rack 10 may be opened simply by disengaging the snaps 48 and 50 and again mounting the rack on a wall.

In the embodiment under consideration, the first portion of the rear surface of each one of the sections and the bottom surface of each one of the sections are sized so that together they substantially equal the length of the second portion of the rear surface. To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 4, the first portion 18F of the rear surface of the section 18 and the bottom surface 16B of the section 16 are sized so that together they substantially equal the length of the second portion 186 of the rear surface of the section 18. Accordingly, when the rack is in the closed position, the rack will form an octagon having eight substantially equal sides. Additionally, it is to be noted that the display rack of the present invention eliminates unsightly shelves and produces a pleasing and esthetic appearance. Moreover, to heighten the esthetic appearance of the present invention, the sections may be fabricated from a decorative wood, such as walnut or the like.

As noted hereinabove, the rack 10 is provided with a handle 52. The handle 52 includes a first member 54 which is connected to the section 12 adjacent the left-hand edge thereof by a rivet 56 (FIG. 5). The handle 52 also includes a member 58 which is connected to the section 12 adjacent the right-hand edge thereof by a rivet 60. The member 54 is provided with spaced male snaps 62 and 64. The member 58 is provided with spaced female snaps 66 and 68. When the rack is in the closed state, the snaps 62 and 66 are connected together and the snaps 64 and 68 are connected together to form a v carrying handle for the rack, as shown in FIG. 5. However, when it is desired to mount the rack on a wall, the aforementioned snaps are disengaged and the snap 66 is connected with the snap 64, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the handle shown in FIG. 1 may then be received over a hook or a nail or the like to mount the rack on a wall. Alternatively, the snaps may be provided with a central bore which receives the hook or nail therethrough.

Accordingly, a display rack has been described which can be mounted on a wall and permits easy and quick access to containers therein or which may easily and quickly be moved to a closed state to transport the containers and which is operable to maintain the containers in place during such transportation.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that numerous omissions, changes andadditions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, although the present invention has been described in the context of a spice rack, it will be obvious that this is by way of example only and is not to be interpreted as being a limitation of the present invention. That is, the rack may be utilized for any type of goods and is not limited to spices. Additionally, it will be obvious that the rack may include more or less than the four sections shown or that any type of apparatus other than containers may be received in the rack openings.

What is claimed is:

1. A display rack for retaining and displaying preselected apparatus comprising a plurality of individual sections, each of said plurality of sections having a plurality of apparatus retainers each adapted to receive an apparatus therein, connecting means for interconnecting said plurality of sections so that one section may be moved to a closed position with respect to another section to prevent removal of the apparatus received in said other section, and spaced fastening means adapted to engage each other when all of said plurality of sections have been moved to the closed position for maintaining said rack closed, said apparatus comprising containers and said apparatus retainers comprising container retainers, said plurality of container retainers being sized so that the tops of the respective containers extend above the associated section, and holding means on each section adapted to receive the tops of the containers of said other section therein when said sections are moved to the closed position to prevent removal of said containers.

2. A display rack as in claim 1, in which said plurality of container retainers in adjacent ones of said plurality of sections are offset with respect to each other, and said holding means comprises a longitudinal groove in each of said plurality of sections, whereby the tops of the containers in said other section are received in said groove in juxtaposition to the container retainers in said one section when the sections are moved to the closed position.

3. A display rack as in claim 2, in which said container retainers are sized and positioned so that a portion thereof is visible through said groove whereby the goods in the containers are visible.

4. A display rack as in claim 1, in which each of said plurality of sections comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall, said rear wall comprising a first portion extending downwardly from said top wall and a second portion tapering downwardly and forwardly between said first portion and said bottom wall, said connecting means comprising at least a pair of straps connected to the second portion of said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections adjacent each end thereof, and said fastening means includes snap members connected to the respective ends of each of said straps.

5. A display rack as in claim 1, and a handle connected to at least one of said plurality of sections.

6. A display rack as in claim 5, in which said handle comprises a first member connected to said section and a second member connected to said section at a point spaced from the connection of said first member, first engaging elements on said first and second members operable to engage each other to provide a relatively short carrying handle, and second engaging elements on said first and second members operable to engage each other to provide a relatively long mounting handle.

7. A display rack comprising a plurality of individual sections each having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall; each of said sections further including a plurality of spaced openings extending downwardly from the top wall, containers received in respective ones of said openings; said openings being sized so that the tops of said containers extend above said top wall; connecting means connecting said plurality of sections together for movement between an open position wherein each section is spaced from the adjacent section whereby said containers are accessible and a closed position wherein one section covers the tops of the containers in another section to prevent the removal of said containers from said other section; and fastening means for maintaining said plurality of sections in the closed position.

8. The display rack of claim 7, in which each of said plurality of sections is provided with a longitudinal groove in the front wall thereof, whereby said one section receives the tops of the containers in said other section therein when said plurality of sections are moved to the closed position.

9. The display rack of claim 8, in which said openings in adjacent ones of said plurality of sections are offset with respect to each other, whereby the tops of said containers in said other section are in juxtaposition to the containers in said one section when said plurality of sections are moved to the closed position.

10. The display rack of claim 8, in which the depth of said groove is sized to extend into said openings whereby said containers are visible through said groove.

11. The display rack of claim 7, in which said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections comprises a first portion extending downwardly from said top wall, and a second portion tapering downwardly and forwardly between said first portion and said bottom, wall, said connecting means being connected to said second portion of said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections, whereby said containers extend outwardly when said plurality of sections are in the open position to facilitate removal of said containers.

12. The display rack of claim 11, wherein said rack comprises four sections, the combined length of said bottom wall and the first portion of the rear wall of each of said sections being equal to the length of said second portion of said rear wall of each of said sections, whereby said sections form an octagon when said sections are in the closed position.

13. The display rack of claim 7, in which each container comprises a bottle having an open top equal in diameter to the interior of the bottle, a bead surrounding said open top, and a flexible and resilient cover having an internal bead adapted to snap over the bead on said bottle to seal said bottle.

14. A display rack as in claim 7, further including an extensible handle movable between a first position for carrying said rack and a second position for mounting said rack on a wall. 

1. A display rack for retaining and displaying preselected apparatus comprising a plurality of individual sections, each of said plurality of sections having a plurality of apparatus retainers each adapted to receive an apparatus therein, connecting means for interconnecting said plurality of sections so that one section may be moved to a closed position with respect to another section to prevent removal of the apparatus received in said other section, and spaced fastening means adapted to engage each other when all of said plurality of sections have been moved to the closed position for maintaining said rack closed, said apparatus comprising containers and said apparatus retainers comprising container retainers, said plurality of container retainers being sized so that the tops of the respective containers extend above the associated section, and holding means on each section adapted to receive the tops of the containers of said other section therein when said sections are moved to the closed position to prevent removal of said containers.
 2. A display rack as in claim 1, in which said plurality of container retainers in adjacent ones of said plurality of sections are offset with respect to each other, and said holding means comprises a longitudinal groove in each of said plurality of sections, whereby the tops of the containers in said other section are received in said groove in juxtaposition to the container retainers in said one section when the sections are moved to the closed position.
 3. A display rack as in claim 2, in which said container retainers are sized and positioned so that a portion thereof is visible through said groove whereby the goods in the containers are visible.
 4. A display rack as in claim 1, in which each of said plurality of sections comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall, said rear wall comprising a first portion extending downwardly from said top wall and a second portion tapering downwardly and forwardly between said first portion and said bottom wall, said connecting means comprising at least a pair of straps connected to the second portion of said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections adjacent each end thereof, and said fastening means includes snap members connected to the respective ends of each of said straps.
 5. A display rack as in claim 1, and a handle connected to at least one of said plurality of sections.
 6. A display rack as in claim 5, in which said handle comprises a first member connected to said section and a second member connected to said section at a point spaced from the connection of said first member, first engaging elements on said first and second members operable to engage each other to provide a relatively short carrying handle, and second engaging elements on said first and second members operable to engage each other to provide a relatively long mounting handle.
 7. A display rack comprising a plurality of individual sections each having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a rear wall; each of said sections further including a plurality of spaced openings extending downwardly from the top wall, containers received in respective ones of said openings; said openings being sized so that the tops of said containers extend above said top wall; connecting means connecting said plurality of sections together for movement between an open position wherein each section is spaced from the adjacent section whereby said containers are accessible and a closed position wherein one section covers the tops of the containers in another section to prevent the removal of said containers from said other section; and fastening means for maintaining said plurality of sections in the closed position.
 8. The display rack of claim 7, in which each of said plurality of sections is provided with a longitudinal groove in the front wall thereof, whereby said one section receives the tops of the containers in said other section therein when said plurality of sections are moved to the closed position.
 9. The display rack of claim 8, in which said openings in adjacent ones of said plurality of sectionS are offset with respect to each other, whereby the tops of said containers in said other section are in juxtaposition to the containers in said one section when said plurality of sections are moved to the closed position.
 10. The display rack of claim 8, in which the depth of said groove is sized to extend into said openings whereby said containers are visible through said groove.
 11. The display rack of claim 7, in which said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections comprises a first portion extending downwardly from said top wall, and a second portion tapering downwardly and forwardly between said first portion and said bottom wall, said connecting means being connected to said second portion of said rear wall of each of said plurality of sections, whereby said containers extend outwardly when said plurality of sections are in the open position to facilitate removal of said containers.
 12. The display rack of claim 11, wherein said rack comprises four sections, the combined length of said bottom wall and the first portion of the rear wall of each of said sections being equal to the length of said second portion of said rear wall of each of said sections, whereby said sections form an octagon when said sections are in the closed position.
 13. The display rack of claim 7, in which each container comprises a bottle having an open top equal in diameter to the interior of the bottle, a bead surrounding said open top, and a flexible and resilient cover having an internal bead adapted to snap over the bead on said bottle to seal said bottle.
 14. A display rack as in claim 7, further including an extensible handle movable between a first position for carrying said rack and a second position for mounting said rack on a wall. 